Earlier this morning, The Plain Dealer reported that there was chatter on the street that the Browns might try to make a pitch for the 2011 third-rounder, whom Browns general manager Mike Lombardi liked coming out of Arkansas.

Later, the Boston Herald reported that the Browns have continued to show interest in Mallett, and that Cleveland and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had inquired about Mallett earlier this offseason, to no avail.

The Boston Globe also reported that the Patriots are fielding calls for Mallett and that they want at least a second-round pick. The Browns currently have no second-round pick.

Mallett, 6-6, 245, could have been a top-five pick had he come out in 2010, but he went back to Arkansas and slipped to the third round. Lombardi, who was working as an analyst for NFL Network at the time, said during the draft that the Patriots had Mallett rated as their top quarterback in the class.

Lombardi also praised Mallett and predicted he'd be one two successful quarterbacks from the group, including Blaine Gabbert.